First ocean dive!

[Ishie]

Have those who tend to get seasick tried closing their eyes and lying down while on the boat? Often that helps.

Ugh... when I'm lying down with my eyes closed, I can almost feel my inner ear being sloshed around. If I can, lying on my side and staring out at the water makes things slightly less miserable because I get weak when I'm sick so I don't have the pressure to stand or sit up.

Of course, during one whale watching trip (when I was 11), my mom finally had to drug me with so much dramamine that I passed out on deck. Didn't even wake up when we hit rough water and got soaked. With the exception of one REALLY bad reaction to Vicodin, it was the sickest I've ever been in my life; however, it was on that trip that I saw my first and only humpbacks, so it was worth every miserable moment.

Ishie

 

[louisianadiver]

Scopolomine is great stuff, but it does have side effects. Aside from dryness and possible drowsiness, many people can't focus their eyes well enough to read when wearing a patch, and actual cases of dementia have been reported in rare instances. Try a patch on land before you consider diving with one. Also, suddenly removing an active patch once you get ashore may cause nausea, so it's best to leave the patch on until the drug is completely absorbed. DAN is studying the effect of scopolomine and antihistamines (Dramamine, Bonine, etc.) under the pressures normally incurred when diving, but I haven't heard any conclusions. Try them on land first.

 

[Kennedydive]

I do not recommend you take this and then go diving but if you are out on the boat and start to feel sick and your diving is either done for the day or you have determined that you will not be in the water the rest of the day then a beer or two helps me. I'm not sure why but it seems to relax some of the things that may be causing me to get ill. Best part of it is that if you do get sick it comes up very easy. If there is nothing in your gut than you will get the dry heaves and it will feel like the eye balls will pop out of your head. If you dispose of that beer than have another. Don't get loaded. That's not going to help.
PS: What works for some may not work for others.
Jason

 

[Wristshot]

Saltine Crackers are said to help calm turbulent stomachs.

Of course the best cure is prevention.

I am much better now, but when I first started diving, I was always repainting the sides of the boat and feeding the fish at the ladder. It was very discouraging. In fact, I didn't buy my own gear for about 10 months because I was not sure that I was ever going to get over the nausea that I was feeling. I usually felt fine under the water, but as soon as I surfaced, I felt like crap. (and not like good crap!)

I started taking Bonine before my boat dives, and that only seemed to help a small amount. When I asked around EVERY diver, instructor etc told me the same thing: forget the directions on the Bonine; start taking it a day ahead of time, one the night before, and one before the first dive. After I started doing that, I was MUCH better. In fact on one particularly big wave day, I was a little queasy, but the other two guys on the boat both felt ill, and they NEVER get sick.

As time has gone on, I have gotten better, and I rarely have any nausea while on dive boats. However, I do still carry crackers for myself and for others.

DISCLAIMERS: Never ignore the warnings and directions on any medications. I am not a doctor, even though I did play one a few times in my youth. Do not take anything I say as valid medical advise, even though I work for a Medical Company.

Wristshot

 

[Ishie]

Scopolomine is great stuff, but it does have side effects. Aside from dryness and possible drowsiness, many people can't focus their eyes well enough to read when wearing a patch, and actual cases of dementia have been reported in rare instances.

Are you serious??? Wow! Never really noticed any side effects with the patch. Used it on a cruise ship when I was younger and could read fine. Used it fairly recently on my latest venture out to see the whales, and for the first time, I didn't have to look up to see them.

Ishie

 

[RonDawg]

Once I'm sick, dramamine and its otc cohorts are useless. Only time (either out of the water or sitting on the bottom in no-surge area) heals. I HAVE had some luck by taking otc stuff well before the dive, even taking it sparingly the day before to build up some residual resistance.

Dramamine and similar substances will NOT work once you wait until you're sick to take them! Even the label says to take it about an hour BEFORE the trip or other scheduled activity.

A boat captain in Hawaii told me of a trick after I got rather seasick on my very first OW boat trip. He said to take a Dramamine right before you go to bed at night, and then again about an hour before the boat leaves the dock. This trick seems to work for me real well. (Legal disclaimer: this boat captain is not a medical professional, so always seek and abide by the advice of your doctor.)

Also, I avoid heavy and/or greasy foods immediately before a dive or even getting onto a boat. I will have only a small, light food such as a croissant or a piece of dry toast, just to take the "edge" off my hunger.

 

[Damselfish]

Scopolomine is great stuff, but it does have side effects. Aside from dryness and possible drowsiness, many people can't focus their eyes well enough to read when wearing a patch...

Haven't heard of that one just from taking it, but if you get it on your fingers then rub your eye - my understanding is that's sure to mess up your vision for awhile.

 

[Jason B]

When I was in the Navy, they always had a 3'X3' box of crackers sitting out for the crew. Really did seem to help. Stay on the deck and watch the horizon so your brain can interpret what is going on and you should be fine. As for beverages, 7-UP was the drink of choice for the sailors on my ship while at sea. 7-UP and crackers and we were good to go.
jason

 

[seaangel]

Mona, I really have empathy for you. What you describe is exactly how I get. I have been diving now for almost 4 years and I have finally found out that I can enjoy even a small boat without being sick. Usually, I don't have a problem on a larger boat, just those smaller that bob up and down or roll from side to side and bob when anchored off.

What I have found works for me is to take Meclizine 25mg starting 2-5 days before I am going on a dive trip. Then the night before I am going on a boat I put on my Transderm (scopalamine patch) and take a 25mg phenergan tablet. Not only does this seem to help I sleep like a baby the night before and I am very well rested. Being tired also can increase seasickness. If I am on a liveaboard trip I may take phenergan again at night if needed. I also, will take it if we are traveling back across the Gulfstream from the Bahamas as that crossing can be a bit rough at times. Generally, I get in my bunk and sleep all the way across. I know others get sick, but I am sleeping and quite comfortable when we dock.

 

[baitedstorm]

I'm all about the patch (transderm scop).... that thing is a miracle.. If I'm out on the boat day after day, I need nothing but lots of fluid, but if I'm out of the water for a week or so I put the patch on. I seem to be very sensitive to the active drug and can only wear for a short time. I'll put it on the night before (if I'm diving in the am) but I usually take it off after the first dive. The blurry vision some people notice (me!) is the dilation of the pupil and that alone makes me ill. By taking it off sooner than normal, I avoid this problem. I do get dry mouth pretty badly so I always bring plenty to drink and some hard candy to suck on. Now my husband on the other hand, gets deathly ill just looking at a boat. He wears the patch also but all night the night before and all the next day or so and has no ill side effects. I would suggest trying it (after you see your MD) on land first. If you have insurance, ask your MD to write the Rx out for 8 or 12 patches (if he will) they come in 4 packs and I get mine this way for just one $14 co-pay...

Let us know how it goes..
Best wishes,
Vickie